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From:		Charles Brindley <cbrindley@logantele.com>	Tuesday, January 04, 2011 10:25:28 PM
Subject:	text for your project...
To:		Gordon Chenery
Attachments:		Attach0.html		12K

Gordon:


How are you?


I copied the following information from a layout program I work in and pasted it on this email- I hope you can work from the following. If not, let me know and I will get the information to you another way. Everything here is pretty straight forward except for the second paragraph in my statement, where I go into what it is like to work directly in front of a subject... include or omit what works for this project.


In a following email I will send you a jpeg file of each image- you can match them up with the descriptions below. Let me know when you receive them or if you need anything else. Also... I think I have the location, building and space areas described correctly, but you had better check, since I do not know the campus and the names of places that well.


Talk to you soon!


Sincerely,


Charles


“I developed and finished the four drawings and painting in the late summer and fall of 2009. My approach included starting all the drawings on site, in front of the trees, returning multiple times to each tree to create compositions and study trunk, limb and surface details. After my on site work was complete I spent another two months at my studio to complete and finsih the five images.”


“Working directly on site, in front of the trees, I engage in an encounter experience which is essential to creative process. Deeper aspects of awareness are activated to the extent that the artist is committed to the encounter with subject. This is why working exclusively from photographs or calendar pictures often fall short of achieving genuine creativity- there is no quality of emotion or engagement with the reality of the subject. What develops from an intensity of encounter is joy- the emotion that goes with heightened consciousness, the mood that accompanies the experience of actualizing one’s own potentialities.”


Charles Brindley


Giant Sycamore Tree in Front of Patrick Wilson Library, Gambill Quadrangle
graphite on paper, 19.25x14 inches, 2009
A giant and majestic tree, the scale is almost overwhelming and it has remarkable coloration and branch structure. As a composition I determined it would work best showing most of the tree structure, with a trace of the library behind it to help show the powerful scale. This would be considered a historical and significant tree.


Giant Oak Tree, Next to Massey Building, West End Entrance
graphite on paper, 11.5x16.5 inches, 2009
This giant Oak works best portrayed at a distance. It is another tree of tremendous scale hard to overlook. Like the Sycamore, there is a tall trunk before the branch structure begins therefore showing most of the whole tree works best. The tree has a massive and interesting base and that was a determining factor to do a composite- showing the whole tree from a distance and a detail of the trunk.


Basswood with Statuary Behind Ball Building,
Montgomery Bell Avenue Entrance
oil on canvas, 40x30 inches, 2009
An impressive and somewhat rare Basswood is located near the middle of campus. This tree is beautifully shaped and has an interesting trunk and low lying branches- it is old as well. Although not as grand as the previously mentioned Sycamore and Oak, you could argue that the Basswood is the most appealing of the trees because of its age, the twisting bark on the trunk and the embracing limb structure. The Basswood was chosen to be a painting because of the above mentioned attributes and it central location on campus.


Southern Magnolia Tree, Front Entrance to Ball Building
graphite on paper, 11.5x16.5 inches, 2009
A Southern Magnolia with a low lying and twisting limb is located in front of the Ball Building. The patina of the limb shows that it has accepted countless perches and climbs. This is an interesting tree that would be considered one of the finest on campus because of its scale, surface quality and limb structure. 


Trio of Two Maples and Tulip Poplar Trees in Sloane Quadrangle
graphite on paper, 24x31 inches, 2009
In the Sloane Quadrangle there is an interesting and windswept Maple that has the most elegant limb structure of any trees at MBA. Another Maple, of notable age and size- behind the Ball Building has a wonderful bark texture and nicely formed branch structure. Near the Patrick Wilson Library there are steps leading to the Sloane Quadrangle. At the top of those steps is a stately Tulip Poplar of considerable size with a compelling bark pattern. These three trees along with some nearby architectural details make up a composite
drawing.


